Decent debut, but don’t expect those fuel ratings

Originally published: May 7, 2013

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My time with the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid came at the end of a stretch that saw the testing of four hybrids in a row. After that many variations of gas/electric vehicles, I thought I had figured out the proper way to work with the technology to achieve optimal performance.

As it turns out, I still have a lot to learn.

My fuel consumption, which we will get to later, was way off from what VW claims the hybrid can achieve, so I guess old habits behind the wheel – and under my right foot – are hard to break.

The Jetta Hybrid is Volkswagen’s first foray into the technology in North America, and as first impressions go, this one was alright.

The model has a base price of $27,875 for the Trendline trim, with the intermediate Comfortline at $30,175. The top trim in the model is the Highline, which checks in at $34,025 before preparation and taxes.

With the Highline trim selected, there is nothing left to add to the Jetta Hybrid if you purchase one, so you are getting all the bells and whistles one would expect, including Bluetooth, heated front seats, fog lights, power seats, Bi-Xenon headlights, a sunroof, satellite radio, navigation system, rear-view camera and more.

Design

One of the first things that struck me about the Jetta Hybrid parked in my driveway was what VW calls its 17-inch “Buenos Aires” alloy wheels. The design and black-on-silver accents make them stand out and definitely give the Jetta Hybrid a little more of an upscale presence.

The Jetta Hybrid, in any trim, is differentiated from the rest of the pack in the VW lineup thanks to a unique front grille, and it benefits from a new type of windshield that helps minimize wind noise in the cabin.

It is nice for two reasons. First, it makes conversations more enjoyable, and second, it makes it much easier to listen to the Fender premium audio system.

On the outside, the Highline model also uses LED daytime running lights — which give the front a little more sparkle — and LED tail lights.

Back inside, occupants are welcomed by leather seating and a comfortable cabin.

With hands firmly planted at 3 and 9 o’clock on the steering wheel, the driver has easy access to the steering-wheel-mounted controls. The centre stack may look a little busy, but everything is well placed and once you are used to it, you should have no problem navigating the dials and buttons.

And as an added bonus, the driver in the Highline trim benefits from a power seat. Everyone else will just have to come along for the ride, though, and adjust their seats manually.

Performance

The Jetta Hybrid is proclaimed as a turbocharged hybrid, and that is indeed the case thanks to its 1.4-litre inline four-cylinder turbo engine. Being a hybrid, that is of course coupled with an electric motor for a combined output of 170 horsepower and 184 foot-pounds of torque.

Those are pretty good numbers for any sedan, let alone a hybrid.

Volkswagen claims that in electric-only mode, the Jetta can go for up to two kilometres at a maximum speed of 70 km/h. That allowed me to enjoy some emissions-free driving at times, especially when driving through a nature park on the western tip of Montreal Island.

And surprisingly, I also found myself cruising along in electric power only on the highway when I was at about 90 km/h.

And just how can you tell what kind of power you are using? Simple, just have a look at the LCD screen on the centre stack and a handy display will tell you just where your power is coming from.

The colour-coded lines in the tachometer also let you know if you are pushing too hard.

The hybrid’s fuel consumption is estimated at 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 4.2 L/100 km on the highway. At the end of my week, spent mostly on local streets and not on Montreal highways, I came away with an average of 7.2 L/100 km.

While nowhere near Volkswagen’s estimates, that figure is still much better than the consumption of the gasoline-only Jetta, which is estimated at 9.1 L/100 km in the city and 6.5 L/100 km on the highway.

Driving/Utility

About the only issue I had with the Jetta Hybrid was just how “grabby” the brakes are, especially when you aren’t used to them.

I had a few neck-snapping braking moves until I learned how to properly modulate my braking pressure.

Other than that, though, there really isn’t much of a discernible difference when driving this Jetta. Transitions from electric power to the gasoline engine – and vice versa – are nearly imperceptible unless you are watching the power display.

Cargo space, like most hybrids, is reduced to 11.3 cubic feet vs. 15.5 in the regular Jetta. It’s not a huge drop, so I doubt that would be a deal-breaker.

The Jetta Hybrid is yet another option for VW lovers, who also have a diesel-powered Jetta at their disposal. With that option running several thousand dollars less, I have to wonder whether that becomes the more coveted “green” option in the Jetta lineup.